WASHINGTON SALMON DNA THE OLY COMEBACK FIELD NOTES MEET THE MENTORS SEA GRANT Genetic diversity is on Researchers work WSG bids farewell to Get to know WSG’s the decline. Page 3 toward Olympia oyster director of 13 years. workshop instructors. Spring 2018 restoration. Page 4 Page 6 Page 7 IDEAS BLOOM IN THE SQUAXIN ISLAND TRIBAL GARDEN How WSG social science research helped catalyze a budding community space

leta Poste stands at the center of the medicinal garden, a small circular patch laden with symbolism. Seven plant beds ring around her, one each Afor the bands of the Squaxin Island Tribe. Two paths cut the plot into four equal sections, in keeping with the gwǝdzadad teachings of Poste’s ancestors, which honor the four directions, four seasons and four stages of life. The paths are laid with oyster shells: “This represents the connection between the land and the sea,” explains Poste, a Squaxin Island member and manager of the Squaxin Island Tribal Garden. This deep land-sea connection initially led Melissa Poe, lead social scientist at WSG and liaison with NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center, to work with the Squaxin Island Tribe. The research began by exploring the cultural impor- tance of the tribe’s shellfish harvesting. Later, Poe and her Squaxin Island tribal collaborators looked at how such practices could be affected by environmental changes, including ocean acidification. Some of the marine-themed questions about well-being that Poe’s projects raised, however, helped tribal members hone in on a land-based vision: the Squaxin Island community garden. The Squaxin Island Tribe comprises Coast Salish indigenous clans that have lived in the seven southernmost watersheds of Puget Sound for thousands of years, in an area surrounding the modern-day cities of Olympia and Shelton. From salmon spawning grounds to geoduck beds, their ancestral territory was abundant in marine resources. Rights to the land and resources located in their traditional harvesting grounds are reserved for the tribe through the Medicine Creek Treaty of 1854. These resources are essential to their nourishment and to their culture. As Poste says, “We are the people of the water.” Squaxin • continued on page 2 Above: Squaxin Island Tribal Below: Traditional shellfish Garden manager Aleta Poste harvesting grounds of the shows off a tomato. Squaxin Island Tribe. Squaxin • continued from page 1 In 2013, Poe and Jamie Donatuto, an environmental In subsequent workshop-format surveys on how health analyst with the Swinomish Indian Tribal these indicators could be affected by future ocean Community, began to research the importance of change, they found physical health, cultural use and the shellfish resources to the Squaxin Island tribal practice, and community connections to be most community’s sense of place and identity. Many vulnerable — particularly owing to the expected Squaxin Island members expressed how formative changes to the tribe’s food practices, such as gather- it had been to grow up harvesting shellfish along the ing shellfish. shore, knowing that they were doing the same activ- The research sparked conversations within the tribe ity and eating the same food that their ancestors had on how to buffer impacts to some of the cultural for generations. “The research confirmed an under- practices and well-being benefits that are associated standing of the intricate connection between marine with their traditional foods. The idea that came up resources and multiple dimensions of well-being,” repeatedly was to establish a community garden. Poe says. “It became clear that shellfish and tradi- Such a garden could reinforce physical health by tional foods are fundamental to community expres- providing fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. sion, relationships and identity — to who they are It could provide refuge for cultural practices by as a people. At the same time, we know that shellfish being a place to grow and learn about traditional are highly vulnerable to ocean acidification.” medicines and traditional ways of preparing foods. The research raised another important question: It could strengthen social connections by being a What could environmental change mean for the gathering space to share stories, give gifts and hold future well-being of the tribe? Seeking answers, celebrations. Poe, Donatuto and WSG’s newest social scientist, “We wanted to take care of the community’s idea of Melissa Watkinson, teamed up with Squaxin col- having a community food space again,” Poste says. leagues Charlene Krise, Aleta Poste, Casey Brown That vision is now a reality. The Squaxin Island and Candace Penn to conduct community-based Tribal Garden was built, planted and harvested in research within the Squaxin Island Tribe. Funding 2016 and has continued to grow fruits, vegetables was provided by WSG, the NIH National Library of and medicinal plants. Community members can Medicine and NOAA’s Integrated Ecosystem Assess- pick up produce at the weekly farm stand, and the ment Program. remaining harvest goes to the tribe’s elder center. First, the researchers defined health and well-being The garden also hosts classes on topics like cook- from the community’s perspective. Then, they ing, jam-making and medicinal practices. “We are assessed how this well-being could be diminished in educating and reaffirming the knowledge that exists the future by ocean change. here in the tribe — and giving people the space to share in it again,” Poste says. Using social science techniques, including ethno- Melissa Poe and Aleta Poste graphic interviews, grounded theory-based analy- The garden is also a space where the community in the Squaxin Island Tribal sis and community verification, the researchers can gather and be together. “In our daily lives, we’re Garden. arrived at seven indicators to describe health and governed by the clock. You’re forced into a time- well-being within the Squaxin Island tribal com- frame,” Poste says. “But when we’re out harvesting, munity: physical health, community connections, it feels like time is infinite. You’re able to have those natural resource security, cultural use and prac- conversations you might not otherwise have, to tice, education, self-determination and resilience. make time for those stories that take a little longer. I always think of that phrase, ‘time immemorial’ — that’s huge,” she continues. “I like to think of this garden as my medicine.”

Washington Sea Grant Sea Star Spring 2018 2 RESEARCHERS DOCUMENT SALMON DIVERSITY USING ANCIENT DNA WSU scientists invent novel techniques to tackle a challenging question of genetic history

By Max Showalter, WSG Science Communications trash dump, known as a midden, looking for salmon Fellow bones that had been discarded by indigenous people. The team worked with government, academic and orthwestern rivers like the Columbia and tribal researchers to acquire 346 fish vertebrae for Snake were once brimming with salmon, DNA analysis to compare with 366 modern samples. Nbut decades of overfishing and environ- mental change have dramatically reduced or wiped The scientific challenges didn’t end there given that out populations. Today, the only remnants of these DNA can degrade a lot over 7,000 years. “Things like populations are scattered patches of ancient bones. moisture, heat and the sun are really hard on genetic Ancient bones that could share secrets of the past — material,” Johnson explains. To get around this, the if only someone could make them talk. group developed a novel method called rescue PCR (short for polymerase chain reaction). In traditional Bobbi Johnson, who recently completed her doctor- genetic sequencing, PCR increases DNA concentra- ate at Washington State University, is just the person tions by taking short snippets and then growing to get these bones talking. With her advisor Gary them. But with degraded DNA, there might not be Thorgaard and colleague Brian Kemp, Johnson has enough genetic material to do this through conven- Researcher Bobbi Johnson. Photo used genetic sequencing to investigate the question, by Washington State University. tional means. Rescue PCR increases the concen- has the dramatic loss of Chinook salmon also led to trations of the reagents needed to grow the DNA, reduced genetic diversity? enhancing the chances of success. “We know that salmon in the Columbia River have As it turned out, the rescue PCR technique worked — experienced massive losses in population size,” and yielded surprising results. The group found that Johnson explains. “We assumed this meant there were nearly two-thirds of the genetic diversity from the also losses in genetic diversity. However, we had never ancient samples was lost in today’s Columbia River been able to test or quantify it. This project did that.” Basin stocks. This is more than the losses found in By using novel techniques, Johnson and colleagues other river basins in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. compared genetic sequences of modern salmon Given that the rivers are very similar environments, with DNA taken from 7,000-year-old samples. Their Johnson says this result was unexpected. results show that genetic diversity among Chinook The team also asked whether patterns of diversity loss salmon in Northwestern river basins has dramati- might leave clues about historical climate events or cally decreased. The study, now published in the more contemporary dam placements, but no strong journal PLOS ONE, reveals the impact that centuries Johnson prepares DNA samples correlations were found. This was in part due to lack of environmental change has had — with real conse- for analysis. Photo by Lindsay of available samples from relevant time periods. quences for modern fish stocks. Hilldorfer. In the future, the team hopes to conduct similar Genetic diversity is a measure of the characteris- experiments in other regions. “Right now, one area tics in a population’s genetic makeup. Like tools we’re looking at is California. Looking at salmon in on a tool belt, genetic characteristics may serve a different area with a different history can help us specialized functions that work best in certain understand this study better,” Johnson says. contexts. Many traits in a population allow the fish to succeed in changing environments. “All environ- While the team’s work highlights the genetic differ- ments change, so diversity is a way to hedge your ences between ancient and modern salmon stocks, bets against the inevitable,” Johnson says. When a Johnson and colleagues emphasize their results don’t population declines, the genetic diversity decreases indicate the fish’s genetic suitability to its current and the ability of the population to adapt to change environment, as previous research suggests today’s decreases also. salmon populations are highly adapted to their home rivers. So make no bones about it — in the Comparing the genetic diversity from before and Pacific Northwest today, the Chinook salmon is still after the population decline requires DNA from king. both periods. While finding DNA from modern The tooth of a Chinook salmon. salmon is easy, it’s not so straightforward for bygone Photo by Bobbi Johnson. fish. To find the ancient DNA, or aDNA for short, Johnson and her colleagues dug through an ancient

Washington Sea Grant Sea Star Spring 2018 3 A SMALL OYSTER POISED FOR A BIG COMEBACK

By Max Showalter, WSG Science Communications oyster populations. They hope to inform restoration Fellow efforts by tracking where oysters move and how they might adapt to various conditions. he Olympia oyster — or “Oly” — may be small, but it has played a big role in Restoration from populations TWashington’s history and culture. As the only oyster native to the region, the Oly once cov- Oyster restoration can be either passive or active. In ered vast swaths of the state’s shorelines, and was passive restoration, ecosystem managers encourage nutritionally, economically and culturally crucial to larval oysters to settle in new locations by making indigenous populations for thousands of years. But the seafloor more desirable. In active restoration, after Europeans arrived, overfishing and industrial oysters are reared indoors and then transplanted to pollution caused the Oly to rapidly decline. new parts of the Sound. “The story of the Olympia oyster has been almost To ensure successful active restoration, managers Above spread: Researchers look forgotten,” says Bonnie Becker, associate professor must know which oysters do best under a given set at Olympia oysters in Puget of marine ecology at the University of Washington of conditions. For the Oly, that means finding out Sound. Photo courtesy of Bonnie (UW) Tacoma. “When people ask, ‘why should we whether certain populations of oysters are particu- Becker. restore Olympia oysters?’ there are some strong larly adapted to where they live in the Sound. Above: Olympia oyster (Ostrea ecological reasons, but also historical, social and Roberts hopes to answer this question by mov- lurida), actual size. cultural reasons why [restoration] is so important.” ing oyster populations from one natural bed and Efforts to restore the iconic species are underway, rearing them under the conditions of another. The but the task remains daunting. Modern populations team is looking for adaptive differentiation among are scattered throughout the Sound and number Olympias — changes in the oysters’ tolerance to only five percent of historical levels. Both Becker environmental conditions. and UW researcher Steven Roberts are leading “The populations in one embayment might be separate WSG-funded projects to help overcome adapted to warmer temps,” explains Brent Vado- the challenges associated with low, disconnected palas, a UW research scientist with the Roberts

Washington Sea Grant Sea Star Spring 2018 4 A SMALL OYSTER POISED FOR A BIG COMEBACK

Left: Olys are deployed for a reciprocal transplant experiment. Photo courtesy of Steven Roberts. Washington Sea Grant research advances Olympia oyster restoration efforts

team. “If you put another population, from a colder on other oysters,” says Becker, who investigates pat- environment, in the same embayment, it might not terns of larval movement and settling that drive pas- reproduce as well.” sive restoration. Understanding such patterns can help resource managers determine where to initiate The team sought location-specific differences in passive restoration. oysters from Fidalgo Bay, Hood Canal and South Sound. They saw unexpected results. Although Becker, along with graduate student Megan Hintz Puget Sound is a small and fairly well-connected and collaborators, use the chemical makeup of place, oysters showed local adaptation, suggesting Olympia shells to learn where a particular larva has that populations might not be interacting as much been over its lifetime. This process is simplified by as expected. the Oly’s unique reproduction method. While most marine bivalves release their eggs to be fertilized “The rate of maturation and the spawn time took within the water column, Oly parents retain their us by surprise,” Roberts says. “Irrespective of where eggs through early larval stages until they reach a they were put, the South Sound oysters spawned certain maturation milestone. This trait, known as Above top: A basket of Olys earlier by about two weeks.” But the team has some is prepared in the lab. Photo brooding, means it’s easier to pinpoint a location theories about what causes such differences. courtesy of Bonnie Becker. where the larva grew up. Larvae on the move Above: A basket of Olys is “While the early larva is being brooded inside its repositioned in the water. Photo Why might the Olympia oyster demonstrate local mom, its shell is forming. That shell has elements courtesy of Steven Roberts. adaptation over such a small spatial scale? One pos- incorporated into it in some proportion to what’s in sible answer is limited population connectivity. the environment,” Becker says. This proportion of elements, measured by a technique called elemental Population connectivity measures how often geo- fingerprinting, reflects the conditions under which graphically distinct populations interact. For oys- the shell is formed, giving hints to its location. “It’s ters, that means learning how larvae are dispersed like a little flight recorder of where that larva has and where they settle. “Usually oysters like to settle been.” Olympia oysters • continued on last page

Washington Sea Grant Sea Star Spring 2018 5 FIELD NOTES WSG Director Penny Dalton Retires his spring we bid farewell to Penny Dalton, our director of 13 years. TDalton is retiring to Portland, Oregon, joining her family. Dalton came to WSG in 2005, leading with a deft hand, expanding the program into emerging areas of marine research and outreach — from ocean acidification and aquaculture SG Coastal Hazards Special- to coastal resilience and workforce development. During her tenure, she nurtured new partnerships and Wist Ian Miller co-authored a developed new sources of funding for WSG. A former Knauss Fellow, she understood the value of fellowships. new paper on how sediment from She oversaw six fellowship programs and helped pave the way for a new generation of marine policy experts, the Elwha dam removal projects much like herself. affected nearshore marine Dalton fostered WSG’s ability to provide researchers, government managers and planners, coastal residents ecosystems near the mouth of the and businesses with the programs and tools needed to make decisions that protect and conserve the marine Elwha River. The study, published SG welcomes Melissa environment and its resources. We wish her well! in the journal , sifted Watkinson as a new social through eight years of data col- W SG Administrative Assistant scientist. Watkinson is a Pacific lected before, during and after the WEileen Herman and Grant Northwest native and a citizen dam removals. The researchers and Fiscal Officer Trinh Vo were of the Chickasaw Nation. She found that while there were no honored at the UW College of the has a master’s degree from significant overall changes in Environment Spring Celebra- UW Bothell, where she worked the invertebrate fish communi- tion for their work on the new with the Quinault Nation to ties, kelp abundances markedly HR system. They each received understand how historical land decreased. However, more recent the Distinguished Staff Member policies impact the capacity of surveys suggest that kelp has Award. Congratulations! coastal tribes to adapt to climate already begun to rebound. change. As a graduate student, SG staff Melissa Poe, Melissa Watkinson worked with WSG WWatkinson and Meg Chad- Eileen Herman and Trinh Vo on developing social indica- sey, along with researchers from tors for the Washington Marine UW Applied Physics Laboratory and Spatial Plan and on a study on JISAO, were awarded a $700,000 the socio-cultural dimensions grant from the NOAA Ocean of ocean acidification. In 2016, Acidification Program to study of she completed a Washington Sea the ecological and cultural impacts Grant (Hershman) State Fellow- of ocean acidification on Pacific ship at The Nature Conservancy. Northwest coastal communities. Trends in biological and chemical data collected from the Olympic elissa Poe, social scientist Coast National Marine Sanctuary Mat WSG, recently co- will be used to project how tribal n early March, members of the authored a paper with the Social communities will be affected by Left to right: Melissa Watkinson, Meg Chadsey and Melissa Poe IWashington shellfish community Well-being Indicators for Marine ocean acidification. gathered in Union, Washington, Management (SWIMM) working for the 25th annual Conference group. SWIMM was launched in he spread of native burrowing for Shellfish Growers. Organized winter 2014 with support from Tshrimp threatens use of by WSG’s Marine Water Quality WSG and the NOAA Northwest some prime oyster-growing land: Specialist Teri King, the event Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) the shrimp soften the ground, drew record attendance and to better understand and improve making it impossible for oysters provided an effective opportunity human well-being as a goal of to grow, a particular problem in for information sharing between ecosystem-based management. Washington’s Willapa Bay area. community and industry partners. The international group includes Now WSG, with Assistant Director Discussions ranged from shellfish 16 scientists with expertise in for Outreach Paul Dye as project disease and environmental stress- relevant fields such as anthro- lead, has received $200,000 ors to farming technology and pology, political science and from state funders to conduct a drones. Following on the heels ecology. The paper, published three-year study to identify best management practices that opti- Orca Bowl of the conference was the 110th in the journal Ecosystem Health mize the value of shellfish farms ore than 100 aspiring marine scientists descended upon the UW annual meeting of the National and Sustainability, presents a Shellfisheries Association, held in new framework to help decision- and preserve their availability as MFishery Sciences Building to participate in the 21st annual Orca downtown Seattle in late March, makers consider how people are habitat for other species. WSG Bowl competition on February 24. Thanks to WSG Education Special- with over 300 presentations and affected by changes in the natu- will work with the Washington ist Maile Sullivan and UW staff, student and faculty volunteers, attendees from around the United ral environment and by different Department of Natural Resources 20 teams from Washington high schools competed for a chance to States. King made a presentation management strategies. (DNR), local oyster move on to the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) competition. and WSG staff shared a table with growers and many Newport High School from Bellevue came out on top and the California and Oregon Sea other partners. moved on to the NOSB Finals in Boulder, Colo. in April. They Grant programs. One highlight did exceptionally well, placing fifth overall and receiving was the Chinese Dinner hosted the prestigious James D. Watkins Sportsmanship Award. by researcher Ken Chew in the Team Captain Peyton Lee also won the Best in Competition International District. Award for his oral testimony in the Science Expert Briefing.

Washington Sea Grant Sea Star Spring 2018 6 THE FACES OF WASHINGTON SEA GRANT’S WORKSHOPS Meet the instructors behind the First Aid at Sea, Marine Wiring and Corrosion, and Diesel Engine Troubleshooting and Maintenance courses

By Max Showalter, WSG Science Communications so to speak, when somebody suddenly starts getting Fellow some basic understanding of electricity,” Ritz says. raining is a core mission of Washington Sea Ritz focuses the one-day workshops on the basics, Grant. Spearheaded by Marine Operations as well as projects that class participants want to It’s really TSpecialist Sarah Fisken, the organization offers tackle on their own boats. But if there’s any one “ nearly 20 classes and workshops a year for commer- thing to learn about marine wiring, Ritz says, it’s beneficial for cial fishermen and recreational boaters alike. These knowing when to call in an expert. people in the courses span a wide range of boating basics — and “The biggest takeaway for students of the class their instructors come from diverse personal back- diesel engine is how to do this safely, and knowing when they grounds and experience. WSG instructors Art Cole, class to see the should be doing it or bringing in a professional.” Kevin Ritz and Walt Trisdale share stories of what Electricity can be dangerous, but through his classes different systems brought them into the classroom and how their Ritz hopes to turn fear into mastery and respect. individual expertise helps shape their teaching. and how they connect. Art Cole, First Aid at Sea Walt Trisdale, Diesel Engine While many of his high school friends went on to Art Cole has spent nearly a decade saving lives in work as car mechanics, Walt Trisdale wanted to do Washington’s boating communities. As an instruc- something a little different. Trisdale landed in Port tor for the First Aid at Sea workshops, Cole teaches Townsend as a marine diesel mechanic in 1994, the basics of how to quickly and effectively assess and where a love for boats grew into a full-time position Instructor act on trauma and injuries shipboard. “The goal is at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding Walt” Trisdale to teach people how to stabilize the patient as best as (NWSWB). Now, he’s also an instructor for WSG’s they can with the tools and training they have,” Cole diesel engine troubleshooting and maintenance says. workshops. Cole, who is a fire chief and paramedic, focuses on To help with the challenge of teaching to both com- teaching his students to take control of the first 20 mercial and recreational boaters, Trisdale always minutes after an accident or injury occurs on board incorporates a show-and-tell element. Regardless a vessel, which increases the chances of survival of the type of ship, he says, the principles of diesel until help can arrive. In his time teaching for WSG, engines are the same and boil down to two key Cole has given this lesson to thousands of fisherman points: “Understanding your fuel systems is abso- and recreational boaters. lutely the number one thing to remember. A close Complacency, Cole says, is the biggest challenge he second would be maintenance. Neglected items faces as a teacher. He suggests regular coursework in could kill your engine.” first aid, even if you’ve taken a class before. After all, Trisdale is also a welder machinist; he says that to one day of instruction could save a life. be a diesel mechanic is to possess many diverse Kevin Ritz, Marine Wiring and Corrosion skills. Fortunately for his students, one of those Walt Trisdale (far right) instructs skills is a penchant for teaching. a diesel engine class. For Kevin Ritz, teaching marine electricity and wiring has a personal motivation. Ritz lost his son, Lucas, eighteen years ago to electrocution. “He was electrocuted by a boat in the water, even though he was touching absolutely nothing. I decided I needed to do my best to prevent this from happening again,” Ritz says. Ritz educated himself on every aspect of marine electricity, eventually starting his own marine wir- ing company. Today, he teaches Marine Electrical Wiring workshops for WSG. “The most rewarding part of teaching is seeing the light bulb coming on,

Washington Sea Grant Sea Star Spring 2018 7 Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Seattle, WA Permit No. 62

Washington Sea Grant College of the Environment University of Washington Box 355060 3716 Brooklyn Avenue NE Seattle, WA 98105-6716

[email protected] wsg.washington.edu Tweeting @WASeaGrant facebook.com/WaSeaGrant

Editor, Samantha Larson; Designer, Robyn Ricks; Assistant Director for Communications, MaryAnn Wagner; Karen Morrill-McClure, Technical Advisor. © Washington Sea Grant; all photos WSG except as noted. ©2018 WSG-MR 18-01

Olympia oysters • continued from page 5 Becker explains that so far, the elemental fingerprinting approach has been a success in Puget Sound on a regional level. “Determining if oysters are from North Sound, Central Sound or the Strait of Juan de Fuca using the shell chemistry appears to be working,” Becker says. “Having an empirically proven understanding of how far oysters are dispersing will be a great success.” Oysters are muddy business. Photo courtesy of Steven Roberts. A bright future for Oly? What will success look like for this team of scientists studying the Olympia oyster? The best outcome for their work is to provide resource managers and organizations focused on bringing back the small oyster with a better restoration toolset. “We wanted to inform managers regarding what meaningful stock structure exists in Puget Sound, and we wanted to inform restoration practitioners about which populations they should use,” Vadopalas says. “These important restoration decisions are ultimately up to resource managers.” A success for the Oly is a success for the region, Becker adds. “Having healthy oyster populations is important to how the Sound is functioning.” As the Olympia oyster shows, good things do come in small packages.